By Ovat Abeng
Management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, in collaboration with an Igbo social-cultural Organization, Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHE), has inaugurated a committee to developed curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with Igbo Language as language of instruction and evaluation across Schools in South East Nigeria.
Speaking during the inauguration that took place at the Asuu-unizik Secretariat, on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Esimone, said the programme will help promote the use of mother tongue in modern technology.
The VC while commending the foundation for initiating the ideas, charged the committee members to tackle the assignment diligently.
In his address, the Executive Director of OCHIE Igbo STEM School, Okoro Chinedum Benedict, said the target of the Project is to raise a generation of Igbo children who can innovate, conceive, invent, and interpret phenomena in the Igbo language.
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He noted that it will also take off on a virtual note targeting to enroll Igbo kids from all parts of the world.”This way, the educational barriers and challenges associated with the learning sciences in our primary and secondary schools would be a thing of the past”.
“over the years, educationists, researchers, and curriculum development experts have argued that children perform better when taught in their mother tongue, hence the project” OCHIE boss explained.
Former Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof Chinedu Nebo, in his keynote address, called on all Universities in South East region to make Igbo Language compulsory for students.
Nebo who spoke on the topic: “The Potentials of mainstreaming Igbo as the language of instruction and evaluation for STEM in Igboland, also called on south east governors to make the language a text-run for those seeking for government work in the region.
The National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyawu was represented at the event by Prof Fred Eze.
